Climate change, UK global warming

What was the 2003 UK heatwave?

A period of extremely hot weather in which around 2000 people died and roads melted.

What happened during the 2010 UK heavy snow event?

Extreme snowfall and freezing temperatures disrupted transport and daily life.

What was the “Beast from the East”?

A severe cold weather event where temperatures reached -18.7°C in the UK.

What happened during the 2014 UK floods?

The River Thames burst into Somerset causing widespread flooding.

Where were the Somerset floods located?

South West England in low-lying farmland areas.

How much rainfall fell during the Somerset floods?

350 mm in January and February 2014.

Why were the Somerset floods made worse?

Rivers had not been dredged in 20 years.

How many houses were flooded in Somerset in 2014?

600 houses.

How many farms were evacuated during the Somerset floods?

16 farms.

How much damage did the Somerset floods cause?

£10 million of damage.

What rivers were dredged after the Somerset floods?

8 km of the River Tone and River Parrett.

What evidence shows climate change is happening?

Average air temperature has increased by 1°C over 100 years.

How much have sea levels risen since 1990?

19 cm.

How have ocean temperatures changed?

Oceans are the warmest since 1850.

How much has sea ice thinned since 1975?

65%.

How do fossil fuels contribute to climate change?

They release around 50% of greenhouse gas emissions.

How does agriculture contribute to climate change?

It produces around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Which continent produces the most agricultural emissions?

Asia, with 44% of agricultural emissions.

Why is solar output not responsible for current climate change?

Solar activity has decreased recently.

What are orbital changes?

Changes in Earth’s orbit and tilt affecting climate over long periods.

How often does Earth’s orbit change shape?

Every 100,000 years.

How often does Earth’s tilt change?

Every 40,000 years.

What happened during the Mount Pinatubo eruption?

20 million tons of sulfur dioxide were released into the atmosphere.

How did Mount Pinatubo affect temperatures?

Aerosols lowered global temperatures by 0.5°C.

How could climate change increase flood risk in the UK?

Damage costs could rise to £12 billion by the 2080s.

How could climate change affect skiing tourism?

Shorter seasons or resort closures.

Which continent has a 70% increased flood risk from climate change?

Asia.

How could reduced ice create opportunities?

Increased accessibility for shipping, oil, and gas.

How could climate change affect maize crops?

Yields may fall by 12%.

What is mitigation?

Actions that deal with the causes of climate change.

How much has been invested in renewable energy?

$211 billion.

What is carbon capture?

A process that captures carbon dioxide and converts it into liquid.

Why is carbon capture difficult?

It is very expensive.

How much money could carbon capture save yearly?

Around £30 billion.

How much has been invested in reforestation?

$40 billion.

How much can planting trees increase carbon storage?

By 28%.

What international agreement was made by the EU?

To reduce emissions by 60% by 2050.

What is adaptation?

Actions that deal with the impacts of climate change.

How can agriculture adapt to climate change?

Move production to different locations.

What is desalination?

A process that removes salt from seawater for drinking water.

How many London homes are supplied by desalination?

400,000 homes.

Why are the Maldives at risk from sea level rise?

The highest point is only 2.4 m above sea level.

How do satellites help monitor tropical storms?

They monitor rainfall every 3 hours.

How do aircraft monitor tropical storms?

They fly through storms collecting pressure and wind-speed data.

What is an advantage of monitoring tropical storms?

It provides warnings to people.

What is a disadvantage of monitoring tropical storms?

Predictions can sometimes be wrong.

How do supercomputers help predict tropical storms?

They analyse weather data and give up to 5 days warning.

What happened in India in 2013 with storm prediction?

Correct prediction reduced deaths to 21 instead of 10,000.

What is an advantage of tropical storm prediction?

It reduces risk of damage and deaths.

How can buildings be prepared for tropical storms?

Using shutters, generators, and disaster kits.

How do mangroves reduce tropical storm damage?

They absorb wave energy and reduce flooding.

What is a disadvantage of planning for tropical storms?

It may not protect against the strongest storms.